Truck-loading apparatus



Oct. 5, 1926.

A. W. JOHNSON TRUCK LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet I 9v h3 .DN o NI v o .ml mu mwN o NH .QN .NN QN muh. No G \\II .I I I I I II I .IWIIUU I V AQ a ha. v I I I I I I I I I I I I U a v. f QN. xiNJm um. 9M. NN. ,Wb v SQ Y www h. MMI I AW ,NIS h. Mw.

Oct. 5 1926. 1,602,112

. A. W. JOHNSON Y TRUCK LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct'. 5, 1926.

. Fig. is a detail view showing UNITED STATES 1,602,112 PATENT OFFICE.

.ARTHUR W'. JOHNSON, nunnannrns OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F FORTY-NINE ONE- TO FREDERICK PETRY, 0F

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.

' TRK-LOADING APPARATUS.

Application led March 26, 1925. vSerial N0. 18,450.'

This invention relates to a truck loading apparatus and has for its object to provide a convenient construction whereby different kinds of materials maybe loaded into the box part or on to the platform of a truck by mechanism operated from a motordriven power-shaft. The invention comprises a suitable truck construction whereby a loading frame with its power-driven conveyor may be housed beneath the box portionor latform of a truck when not in use, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the' accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating the'invention with the yloading frame arranged for loading loose material into the box of a truck. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts disposed for the purpose of loading a heavy body into the box or on to the platform of a truck. Fig. 3 is an end view looking from the Vright of Fig. 1, showing the loading frame in working position. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the loading frame stored beneath the box of the truck.

' the driving connection for the conveyor of the loading frame with the motor driven shaft, and also the means whereby the conveyor driving worm Wheel may be disconnected from the 3W motor driven shaft when the truck is being are `.attached truck driving wheels 19.

driven on the road. Fig. 6 isa plan view of some of the parts shown in elevation in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a` detail plan View of the loading frame and its endless conveyor. Fig. 8 is a detail view ofthe tension adjust-ing device for the" endless belt conveyor. Fi 9 is a cross section on line 9 9, Fig. 7, showing the belt tension adjusting devices and the side-boards of the loading frame in working position for handling loose material. Fig. 10 is a cross section of the loading frame showing at its right hand side lthe ositionof one of the side-boards of the loading frame when not in use. Fig. 11` is a detail view showing means for supporting one of the side-boards when in operative position. i

`Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes a part of the chassis of a truck on which is suitably mounted a box or receptacle portion 13. `Beneath the chassis is mounted a motor driven shaft 14 having sprocket wheels 15 connected by chains 16 with sprocket wheels at 17 on a shaft 18 to wich ttruck loading frame less conveyor nected to the shaft 14, by gears or in any other suitable manner, Iis a power shaft'20 provided with a worin 21 meshing with a worm wheel 22 on a shaft 23 mounted in suitable bearin s 24 on the chassis. The shaft 23 is en wise adjustable, as will be hereinafter explained, so as to throw the worm wheel 22 intoQ and out of engagement with the worm 'when the truck is being driven on the road.

'The shaft 23 is provided with a sprocket wheel 24a Iconnected by a chain 25 with a sprocket wheel 26 on a shaft 27, said sprocket wheel "26 Ibeing connected -by ai chain 28 with a sprocket wheel 29 on the A The sprocket wheel 29 is carried .by a shaft 31 suitably mounted in the loading frame 30 and carries a second sprocket wheel 29 connected by a chain 32 with a -sprocket wheel on a shaft 33 tov which is Mounted near the opposite end of the loading frame is a second roller 35, and an endbelt 36 runs over the rollers 34 and 35 and is driven by the roller 34. The roller 35 rotates on a shaft 37 having bearings in side bars 38 which are sliding'ly mounted on longitudinal bars 39 forming part of the conveyor frame. The roller 35 may be adjusted to place the belt 36 under suitable tension by means of a forked yoke on a cross bar 42. and provided with a hand wheel 43 which may rection to adjust the roller 35 as may be desired. The belt 36y is ypreferably provided with cross cleats or slats 36a to engage loose material to be loaded.

. Fixed to the shaft 23 are pulleys .44 around which a rope 45 may be eral' turns when .it is desired to use either one of said pulleys as a winch or capstan in drawing a heavy article, as block m, up the side bars of the loading frame, as shown in Fig. 2, into the truck box or onto the truck platform.

Between one of the winch or capstan pul-I leys 44 and a head 23a on the shaft 23 1s a Ysleeve or collar 46 to which are jointed,

fixed a roller 34.`

given sev- 40 to which is swivelled a screw 41 mounted e outer ends of which are jointed` to a fork 49 at Ithe lower end of a lever 50, v

pivoted on a support 51 and which lever, in practice, will be extended upward so lthat its upper lend will be -conveniently accessible props 55 the lower this brace being pivoted to a. prop 59 p iv- ,oted to the loading. frame, said prop being to the driver of the truck when it is desired to shift the shaft 23 endwise for the purpose of engagincr the worm wheel 22 with the worm 21, or fbr disengaging it from said worm, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

The loading frame is preferably provided with pivotally mounted side-boards 54 overlapping the sideedges of the conveyor belt 36 so as to prevent loose material from falling down`sidewise from said belt, the said side-boards being provided with hinged ends of which may rest the sides of the loading Figs. 9 and 11, when the said side-boards are in working position, but when it is desired to throw the said sideboards out of working position, as shown in Fig. 10, the said props will be removed from their .supporting lugs and the said sideboards may be lowered to the position best shown at the right of Fig. 10. I

To steady the loading `frame when in position for loading loose material, as shown in Fig. l, a brace 57 having forked ends to engage rods or pins 58 on the chassis and loading frame will preferably be provided,

on the lugs 56 at frame, as shown in preferably provided at its lower `end with a Wheel 60. Vlien the loading frame is not in use and is to be stored beneath the floor A 57 and prop 59 may of the truck the. brace be folded together out of the way.

It will be noted that when the loading frame 30 is in position for loading loose material, as shown in Fig. l, itsvupper end is lsupported on the box 13, said upper end overlapping said box so as todischarge loose material into said box, and when in this position the lower end, of said frame is close to the ground soiasto pick up-loose inaterial from the ground ora floor. In this loading osition the loading frame is 'held against t e truck box by draft on the chain 28, said frame being steadied in its working position by the prop .or props 59 and brace or braces 57. The frame of the truck is provided with a cross rod 52 and the upper end of the loading frame is provided with hooks 53 so that when heavy articles are to be loaded the-upper end of said loading frame will be approximately on a level .with the platform of the truck, while its lower 4vand will be that heavy articles may be readily placed on s said loading frame.

It will be noted that between the lower part of the chassis 12 and the box 13 of the truck a considerable space is providedfthis space being of suflicient size to receive the yloading frame which may be disengaged from either of the working positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and then slid into the storing space as shown in Fig. 4. In thus storing the loading frame away the sprocket pulled out, as shown close to the ground so the truck is to run on the road.

chain 28 will first be loosenedand then re moved, and this will enable the parts to be stored away without difficulty.

The loading frame is preferably provided at its loading end with a hinged shield 61 which may be held in working position, as shown in Fig. l, by means of a brace 62 pivotally attached at its inner end to the loading frame and resting at its outer end on a lug 63 on the said shield. This construction enables the shield and its brace or braces to be folded in out of the way when the loading frame is to be stored o-n the chassis 'beneath the truck box or platform.

Mounted on the chassis framefare rollers 64 which will facilitate running the loading frame in or out beneath the truck box or platform, and at the rear end of the chassis frame are slides 65 which may be in Fig. l, when the loading frame is to be lowered down as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, for the purpose of running it in beneath the box of the truck. These slides will preferably run on rollers 66. The loading frame 30 preferably comprises an auxiliary frame portion 30a which may be telescoped into the main frame part to shorten the loading frame when it is to be stored on the chassis beneath the truck platform or floor of the truck box. In thus shortening the loading frame the sprocket chain 32 will of course be loosened and vtaken oil', as hereinbefore stated. An adjusting or tensioning device, similar lto that shown in Fig. 8 for the conveyor belt, will preferably be employed for tightening or loosening the sprocket chain 32, as denoted by dotted lines in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1 is shown a hoist 67 such as is usually used in dump trucks, but which, however, forms no part of the present invention.

From the foregoing it will be"y understood that the invention provides an elicient pow# er-driven truck loading construction adapted-for loading heavy articles as well as for loadingloose material, and also provides a convenient construction whereby the loading frame may be easily stored. forl transportation when not in use, las well as means iio for connecting the loading mechanism with a power driven disconnecting said loading mechanism from the power shaft when not in use, as when Having thus described mylinvention I claim and desire to secure by lLetters Patent: l. The combination with a truck provided with a power-driven shaft,of a loading frame, means for removably supporting said loading frame in an inclined-position overlapping the body of said truck,so as to discharge loose aterial into the -box of said` truck and wit its lower end adjacent the,

shaft for loading, and for boxA for holding: loose material,

lower end close to -means for removably supporting ing still,

grpund, so as to pick up loose material, an endless conveyor mounted in said driving connections between said powerdriven shaft and said conveydr, and means for connecting and disconnecting said driving connections and said sha t.

2. A self-loading truck comprising a body box for holding loose material, a loadin frame, an endless conveyor mounted in sai frame, means for removably supporting said frame in an inclined position with its upper ,end overlapping said box, so as to discharge loose material into said box, and with its lower end close to the ground so as to up loose material from the ground or oor, said frame in an inclined position with its upper end approximately on a level with the bo or platform yoisaid box and also with. its lower end close to the ground, disconnectible power-driven means for operating said en less conveyor, operating with said frame, for loading heavy articles; whereby, while the truck is standeither loose material or heavy articles may be loaded by power. n

3. A self-loading truck comprising a body a loading frame, an endless conveyor mounted in said frame, means for removably supporting said frame in an inclined position with its upper y end overlapping said box, so as to discharge loose material into said box, and with its the ground so as to ick up loosematerial from the ground or oor, means for. removably supporting said frame in an inclined position with its upper end approximately' on a level with the bottom or platform of said box and'also with its lower end close to the ground, disconnectible power-driven means' for o erating saidendless conveyor, and owerriven means, co-operating with said frame, for loading hea articles; vwhereby while the truck is stan ing still, either loose material or heavy articles may be loaded b power, said body box being spaced above t e frame or chassis of said truck for said loadin A self-loa er-driven shaft, a loading frame, removabl supporting said loading in an inc ined positi n overlapping the body of saidtrucli, so as to dischar loosemath :box of said truc frame when not in use.

means for and with d so as to lremovable'supporting said frame in an inc ed position on said truck with its upper end approximately on withthe platform onthetruck box and also frame, v

with the platf ick and power-driven means, co-

'side-boards are to afford transportation storage ing truck comprising a powframe lside edges means comprising hihged props,

with its lower end ower driven means close to the ground, for loading heavy articles when said frame is in its last-named position, an endless conveyor mounted in said frame, and drivin connections between saidl power-driven sha t and said conveyor. 5. The combination with a truck provided with a power-driven shaft, of a loadin frame, means for removably supporting said loading frame in an inclined position with its upper end approximately on a level y orm of the truck body and with its lower end adjacent the ground, and a longitudinally shiftable shaft which'may be operatively connected with said powerdriven shaft, said shiftable shaft being provided with one or more winch or capstan pulleys for use in loading heavy articles into the truck, while the latter is standing still, by the cio-operative use of said loading frame provided with an endless conveyor,

means for removably supporting said .loa ing frame in an inclined position either with its upper end approximatel on a level with the platform of the truck ody or with its upper end overlapping the truck body and with its lower end adjacent the ground when in either of the two positions mentioned, and a longitudinally shiftable shaft which may be operatively connected with said powerdriven shaft, said shiftable shaft being provided with one or ulleys for use in loading heavy articles into the truck by the co-operative 'use of more winch or capstan said loading frame, and driving. connections between said last-named shaft and said endless conveyor; whereby either heav articles or loose 'material may be loaded into said truck. i v 7 A truck loading frame proiided with an endless belt conveyor and wit pivotally mounted side-boards adapted to side edges of said belt conveyor when said in working positions, and removable means boards in place when in use.

8. A truck loading frame provided with an endless beltconveyor and with pivotally mounted sid -boards adapted to overlap the of said belt conveyor whensaid side-boards are in working positions, and removable means for maintainin said sideboards in place when in use, sa' remivable anl Intestiniony whereof my 'signature on which said props may rest.

i ARTHUR W.1JoriNsoN.

overlap the for maintaining said side- 4ins 

